About Me

Melissa White

Hello, and thanks for visiting my blog! My name is Melissa, and I love being a teacher. This is my 12th year of classroom teaching, both in regular and special education. Before that, I worked for more than a decade with a non-profit children's charity in Cleveland's inner city.

In my spare time (hmmmm?), I teach graduate and undergraduate education courses in reading and special education. I love collaborating and sharing with other teachers, and this blog helps me to do a little bit more.

My passions in teaching include integrating technology, using hands-on activities in math and science, and differentiating instruction for students with various needs. I also have an extensive background in working with students with autism and emotional disturbance, and teach workshops to parents of children with these needs.

Last, but best, I am mom to one terrific daughter! She makes each day brighter, and is the inspiration for what I do each day!

Friday, January 25, 2013

Anytime
you can take a math concept and link it to something that kids LOVE, it’s a
win. So how about CANDY? Is there a way to pull candy into a key math
skill? YES! J

This
week in my classroom we are delving into data analysis and graphing. I want my students to not just read different
kinds of graphs but to MAKE them as well.
I find that when they have to come up with the scale on the graph, or to
cut and place the pictures on a pictograph, it takes their understanding of how
graphs work to a much deeper level.

So I
started to think about graphing…then started to think of how to add the “fun
factor.” This Candy Factory GRAPH-tastic Math Centers kit was the result.

There
are 5 different math stations, all around a “Candy Factory” theme. Students take the role of “Candy Factory
Manager” while trying scenarios where different types of graphs and data could
be used. They'll be working with pictographs, bar graphs, coordinate graphs, line graphs and more. I may even pass out a few
Skittles to add to the fun. J

I
can’t wait to try this with my kiddos this week during math centers! The task cards give clear directions on what
students are to do, and there are matching student activity sheets on which
they can do their work. I’m thinking
that I’ll get some of those plastic stand-up page holders to put the task cards
in, and set up the 5 different stations around the room.

I've just added this to my TPT store, and hope that it's something you can use! It
includes 5 different task cards and the printable student sheets to go with
each task. A grading rubric and answer
key is included as well!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

It’s
nice to know that there are “little” holidays throughout the year. Holidays that just make you smile and give
you a small distraction from routine.
What are the “little holidays?”
Groundhogs Day… Valentine’s Day…St. Patrick’s Day… holidays like those. There’s
not much (if anything) to buy, and still it’s fun to decorate, celebrate, and
incorporate fun little “mini” holiday traditions.

So
perhaps this is how I got caught up in creating my latest activity, “Groundhog
Gets His Day.” I came across some super
cute little groundhog art, and just had to figure out a way to make it
educational! J A nonfiction passage, set of inference
questions, and Smart notebook later, and groundhogs will officially be part of
my reading centers next week! I like this activity because it combines information text reading with critical thinking skills--all with a bit of "little holiday" fun!

Students start by reading the included nonfiction passage on groundhogs, then answer
inferential questions based on the text.
The printable student activity sheet includes 10 higher-level questions
that get kids making inferences and drawing conclusions! They’ll
learn not just about the furry groundhog, but how the traditions of Groundhog
Day began.

My
favorite twist, though, it the Smart notebook included. After they’ve tried the questions on the
activity sheet independently, kids regroup to confirm their answers on the
Smartboard. With fun “reveal” boxes,
students can touch colorful boxes in the file to see the correct answers “magically”
appear. This makes the activity
self-checking, and allows some time for discussion about their work. I’m planning on using this as a small-group
station, but it could certainly be varied for whole group too!

I’ve
posted this to my TPT store here and
would welcome your feedback! While it’s
still winter, we might as well still celebrate even these little holidays,
right? :) That’s what I tell myself! J

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

A very big thank you to Kay at A Little Tech for
nominating me for the Liebster Award!
This award is given by bloggers to up-and-coming bloggers who have less
than 200 followers. I’m honored! J The Liebster Award lets people with newer
blogs know that they are appreciated, and it also helps spread the word about
new blogs. There are so many wonderful
teacher blogs out there—what a great opportunity to collaborate and
inspire! So, happy to receive and share
some new blog love! J

6. I survived a plane crash when I was 14 years
old. (Still not the best flyer!)

7. Once a person who didn’t care for dogs, I’m now a
complete sucker for my long-

haired chihuahua, Ollie.

8. After growing up learning that our family had
deep Scottish roots, an Ancestry.com search revealed that we’re not even a drop
Scottish. Not a drop.

9. I wish I could dance. I can’t—not at all.

10. I'm a big movie buff, and can pretty much tag any movie quote. :)

11. I love…love…love teaching.
After a month of summer vacation, I almost can’t

stand waiting to get
back into the classroom!

My answers
to Kay’s questions:

When did you decide to become a
teacher? I’ve wanted to be a teacher
since I was 7 years old. After starting
with education then briefly trying 3 different majors in college, I came back
to my first dream and jumped into teaching!

What is the biggest reward in teaching? The biggest reward is
seeing students grow and realize that you had a role in their learning—both academcally
and as people of character.

What is the biggest challenge in teaching? Finding
uninterrupted time to focus on instruction and classroom prep!

What is your most embarassing moment? I tripped on the
sidewalk and did a complete face plant in Bar Harbor, Maine on the 4th
of July. At the Lobster Festival that
was very, very well attended. It was a
moment I’d rather forget. J

When were you most proud of yourself? When I graduated with my masters degree in
education. I was so proud that I
accomplished that goal, and set an example for my daughter.

Who is your role model?
Why? I would have to say my
mom. She is wise, kind, smart, and
giving. Along with my dad, she’s been
the biggest influence on who I am today.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you
go, and why? I would
love to go back to Paris. I went in high
school, and found it to be life-changing.
It would be great to go back and take my daughter to experience the
wonder!

What is your favorite sport?
Being a new transplant to Texas, it would be
wrong to say anything but football. J I’m a fan.

If you could write a book, what would it be about? I would
write a book for kids to inspire character and kindness to others. It’s a passion of mine to see kids develop
their EQ—“emotional intelligence” and character.

Where did
you grow up? In a very small town, Rock Creek, Ohio.

What is
your favorite children’s book to read aloud to your students? Why? There’s something magical about reading
anything by Dr. Seuss. Young or old,
kids love the language play and awesome imagination!

Questions for my nominees:

1. Where did you grow up?

2. How long have you been teaching?

3. What is your favorite subject to teach, and why?

4. What got you into blogging?

5. What is your biggest teaching strength?

6. What is your biggest teaching challenge?

7. If you could have the ultimate classroom wishlist item, what would it be?

8. What is your favorite children's book to read to your students, and why?

9. Who was your favorite teacher as a child, and why?

10. Other than a teacher, who is your biggest role model and why?

11. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy New Year! I
wanted to celebrate 2013 by posting a fun math FREEBIE!

My kids love doing these math tricks! This fun activity guides kids through a
series of math operations (addition, subtraction, and simple doubling and
dividing) to yield a number surprise! Basically they start with a given number
(the year 2013) and end with the same number IF the math steps are done
correctly. I like it because it’s almost
self-checking and motivates students to work diligently through the math
operations. I love the “oohs” and “ahhs”
from them when they see what happens with their answer!

A great review activity for accurate computation, and I’ve
included some extension questions for higher-level thinking! Kids can go the next step of explaining why this math trick works (because the
net change is zero when an operation is done and then undone). Better yet, students can come up with their
own math trick to share with the class!
Download your FREE copy at my TPT store here, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!